SoftBank CEO says he's 'all in' on OpenAI, reveals he's long wanted Microsoft's spot as main backer

Core Viewpoint - SoftBank Group Corp. is fully committed to investing in OpenAI, with plans to invest approximately 4.8 trillion Japanese yen ($33.2 billion) despite OpenAI being unlisted and unprofitable [2][6] Investment Strategy - The company has significantly increased its investments in OpenAI and is involved in joint ventures like the $500 billion Stargate project [1] - SoftBank's CEO Masayoshi Son believes that OpenAI will eventually be listed and could become the most valuable company globally [2] Historical Context - Son revealed that he was approached by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2019 for a potential $10 billion investment, which he was willing to make due to the Vision Fund's performance [3] - Microsoft ultimately secured the investment deal, becoming the exclusive provider of computing power for OpenAI, but has since lost that status [4] Relationship Dynamics - Son suggested that Altman should have chosen SoftBank over Microsoft as the initial partner, acknowledging that Microsoft offered more resources at the time [5] - SoftBank has indicated it may reduce its investment in OpenAI from $30 billion to $20 billion if OpenAI does not restructure into a for-profit entity by the end of the year [5] Future Outlook - Despite the challenges with Microsoft, Son's confidence in OpenAI has strengthened, and SoftBank plans to deepen its relationship with the company [6]